Following three years of industry consultations, members of Australian Citrus Growers (ACG), which was established in 1948 as the national peak body of the Australian citrus growing industry, have voted by an overwhelming majority in support of establishing a new, more commercially oriented national organisation.
Citrus Australia Ltd will owned and directed by the country's growers and represent their interests at regional, national and international level, with the overriding aim of working more efficiently and utilising resources more effectively.
ACG president Mark Chown said the result showed Australia's citrus growers were ready to adopt a new representative model which would offer them more direct involvement in industry matters.
The body will be officially launched on 1 November 2008 and will initially be based at ACG's headquarters in Mildura, in the state of Victoria.
Citrus Australia's inaugural directors are as followes: Tania Chapman, Kevin Cock, Greg Dhnaram, Kelly Jones, Michael McMahon, Kevin Parr and Michele Phillips.
Growers wishing to join the organisation are being invited to do so via the ACG website at www.australiancitrusgrowers.com
